Chris Chambers hopes to revive his NFL career at his new training facility

The former Miami Dolphin and Pro Bowler will open The Chamber on Aug. 5.

July 16, 2012|Izzy Gould, SunSentinel.com

DAVIE — The injuries that forced his NFL exit have transformed Chris Chambers into an entrepreneur.

Training athletes since January, the former Pro Bowler and 2001 second-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins hasn't dismissed a return to professional football. His focus, however, is on opening The Chamber (10650 W. State Road 84, Davie) - a multi discipline sports performance and athletic training center he founded and funded due to open Aug. 5.

Coincidentally, Chambers has chosen to satisfy his NFL void by merging an elite physical fitness, training and rehabilitation facility beneath one roof.

If he can re-establish himself in the NFL by reconstructing himself at his own facility, Chambers would become his best advertisement.

“If it gets to the point where I'm feeling really good with our medical crew that's going to be in here and some of our trainers, and the nutrition I'll be on, maybe I'll get a stab at (a return to the NFL),” Chambers said. “It would be great to play as a Miami Dolphin because it's right around the corner. If they need some help at receiver, just a leader in the locker room to come out there and make some plays I'd be open to doing that. That's kind of down the road right now, but that's what I'm thinking. Then if nothing happens throughout that year I'll officially retire in 2013.”

Chambers, 33, suffered a hip injury during the 2010 preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs, then later a broken finger. He still played in 13 games with 22 receptions for 213 yards and one touchdown. He later learned the hip injury was “serious.”

Chambers trained intensely for 2011. He received interest from the San Francisco 49ers, but ultimately was confined to cheering for his former teams including the San Diego Chargers.

“I didn't want to get out of football,” Chamber said, “just like a lot of people.”

Chambers (5-foot-11, 230 pounds) said he needs to shed 15-20 pounds, and is a few weeks from fully focusing on training once The Chamber opens its doors. He plans to use the facilities staff, which will include medical personnel, trainers and nutritionists.

On Monday afternoon, brand new weightlifting equipment was still huddled on the floor's center, each piece individually wrapped in plastic and selected by Chambers based on his experience of what professional athletes use.

The walls were covered in mirrors, and a portion of the facility was sectioned off with a turf floor. Outside, a field had been leveled off and was still three weeks away from the Bermuda grass settling where outdoor training will occur.

Inside, Chambers will install a Hypoxico Altitude Chamber, which simulates training in thin air. The room will be filled with Pro-Form Tour De France bikes equipped with Google Maps to simulate real road conditions.

There's also a nutrition bar, which will offer health drinks.

Chambers also wants to establish what he calls an NFL hopeful program to help train players, who miss the cut on an NFL team. The ultimate goal is to improve the player, and to help land them at some point on an NFL roster, such as the Dolphins.

Chambers returned to the Dolphins' training facility last month for a day, and recognized almost everyone he once worked with had been replaced. Chambers hopes to build a good relationship with the Dolphins even if he never plays.

“You wonder how you're gonna transition out of the NFL,” Chamber said. “...In any profession, it's a hard pill to swallow to not be able to leave the game on your own terms.”